Post by blackcrowheart on Sept 5, 2007 14:52:11 GMT -5
Stomp Dance
The Cherokee Stomp Dance performed by the Western Cherokee People in Oklahoma is
unique within the Cherokee Culture. The Stomp Dance had it's origins with the
Creek Indians and was incorporated into the Cherokee culture after their arrival
in Oklahoma following their forced removal and arduous trek on the Trail
of Tears. The Stomp Dance was not one of the original dances performed by
the Ah-ni-ku-ta-ni or a
traditional element of the Cherokee Moons Ceremonies. In modern times, the Stomp
Dance has come to replace the Green Corn Ceremony (old woman corn
mother/Ah-ga-we-la se-lu ut-si) as the principal gathering of the Cherokee
people during the first moon of harvest for the Western Cherokees in Oklahoma.
These gatherings normally occur during the last part of August and first week of
September.
After arriving in Oklahoma, numerous other Native Americans were being
relocated into the Indian Territory. This forced integration of cultures allowed
a mixing of customs between various Native American Tribes, and not
surprisingly, the Cherokee people began to incorporate the customs of other
tribes. As a result, the Western Cherokees lost or abandoned much of their
original culture and ceremonies, but preserved their language, and many of their
traditional stories. Other Cherokee groups in Missouri, Texas, and various areas
of the South attempted to preserve and practice their ancient ceremonies at
night or in secret due to activities of the Klu Klux Klan and other
racist groups. This was particularly true in areas of Missouri, where many a
tale of dread is still told of Cherokees being forced to flee their homes in the
night due to midnight raids by the Klu Klux Klan and other
groups who feared Indians and attempted to drive their settlements out of
various areas of Missouri.
The Stomp Dance is performed by the Western Cherokees at the Stokes Stomp
Dance Ground which is located in an isolated area of the Cherokee Nation Tribal
Lands. The Dance Grounds contain an elevated platform upon which a very large
bonfire is kindled after sunset. Women wear traditional Cherokee Tear Dresses,
Men Wear Western Blue Jeans and Cowboy Hats with a single Eagle Feather in the
hat band. The dance leader is a male Cherokee Elder who calls the people to the
dance for each round in the Cherokee language. The women wear turtle shell
shakers on both legs, typically 3 on each side of their legs, or six per leg
which are punched with holes and filled with rocks or shot.
In the Dance, the women keep the beat for the dancers, and the men repeat the
songs sung by the leader. The dancers circle the fire in counter-clockwise
direction with slow, stomping steps set to the rhythm created by the women as
the stomp with their shell skakers. The order of the dancers is
male-female-male-female in a continuous spiral or circle. As the dance begins
several hundred people may join the circle as the dance progresses. The dance
continues until four rounds of four songs are completed by the Dance Leader, and
the dance concludes until the next round. There is normally a 5 minute break
between rounds. The dance continues throughout the entire night until dawn of
the next day. The Stomp Dance is a grueling and physically challenging event and
almost every Cherokee on the grounds will dance until they drop out from
exhaustion. Following and during the dance at dawn an enormous feast of fried
pork is consumed throughout the night, along with potatoes, bean bread, and
numerous Cherokee traditional dishes. At dawn, a special medicine made from 7
secret roots gathered by the 7 clans is given to all the Cherokees who completed
the dance. This medicine is very invigorating and imbibing execessive amounts
typically results in emetic and purgative affects.
If you have a chance to make life better for others and fail to do so,
you are wasting your time on Earth. No matter what our station in life,
we are here to serve, even if that sometimes means making the greatest
sacrifice of all.
www.theupcn.com
The Cherokee Stomp Dance performed by the Western Cherokee People in Oklahoma is
unique within the Cherokee Culture. The Stomp Dance had it's origins with the
Creek Indians and was incorporated into the Cherokee culture after their arrival
in Oklahoma following their forced removal and arduous trek on the Trail
of Tears. The Stomp Dance was not one of the original dances performed by
the Ah-ni-ku-ta-ni or a
traditional element of the Cherokee Moons Ceremonies. In modern times, the Stomp
Dance has come to replace the Green Corn Ceremony (old woman corn
mother/Ah-ga-we-la se-lu ut-si) as the principal gathering of the Cherokee
people during the first moon of harvest for the Western Cherokees in Oklahoma.
These gatherings normally occur during the last part of August and first week of
September.
After arriving in Oklahoma, numerous other Native Americans were being
relocated into the Indian Territory. This forced integration of cultures allowed
a mixing of customs between various Native American Tribes, and not
surprisingly, the Cherokee people began to incorporate the customs of other
tribes. As a result, the Western Cherokees lost or abandoned much of their
original culture and ceremonies, but preserved their language, and many of their
traditional stories. Other Cherokee groups in Missouri, Texas, and various areas
of the South attempted to preserve and practice their ancient ceremonies at
night or in secret due to activities of the Klu Klux Klan and other
racist groups. This was particularly true in areas of Missouri, where many a
tale of dread is still told of Cherokees being forced to flee their homes in the
night due to midnight raids by the Klu Klux Klan and other
groups who feared Indians and attempted to drive their settlements out of
various areas of Missouri.
The Stomp Dance is performed by the Western Cherokees at the Stokes Stomp
Dance Ground which is located in an isolated area of the Cherokee Nation Tribal
Lands. The Dance Grounds contain an elevated platform upon which a very large
bonfire is kindled after sunset. Women wear traditional Cherokee Tear Dresses,
Men Wear Western Blue Jeans and Cowboy Hats with a single Eagle Feather in the
hat band. The dance leader is a male Cherokee Elder who calls the people to the
dance for each round in the Cherokee language. The women wear turtle shell
shakers on both legs, typically 3 on each side of their legs, or six per leg
which are punched with holes and filled with rocks or shot.
In the Dance, the women keep the beat for the dancers, and the men repeat the
songs sung by the leader. The dancers circle the fire in counter-clockwise
direction with slow, stomping steps set to the rhythm created by the women as
the stomp with their shell skakers. The order of the dancers is
male-female-male-female in a continuous spiral or circle. As the dance begins
several hundred people may join the circle as the dance progresses. The dance
continues until four rounds of four songs are completed by the Dance Leader, and
the dance concludes until the next round. There is normally a 5 minute break
between rounds. The dance continues throughout the entire night until dawn of
the next day. The Stomp Dance is a grueling and physically challenging event and
almost every Cherokee on the grounds will dance until they drop out from
exhaustion. Following and during the dance at dawn an enormous feast of fried
pork is consumed throughout the night, along with potatoes, bean bread, and
numerous Cherokee traditional dishes. At dawn, a special medicine made from 7
secret roots gathered by the 7 clans is given to all the Cherokees who completed
the dance. This medicine is very invigorating and imbibing execessive amounts
typically results in emetic and purgative affects.
If you have a chance to make life better for others and fail to do so,
you are wasting your time on Earth. No matter what our station in life,
we are here to serve, even if that sometimes means making the greatest
sacrifice of all.
www.theupcn.com